Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern

The Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern (German Radio Philharmonic Orchestra Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern) is a German radio orchestra. Its administrative headquarters is in Saarbrücken, at the Funkhaus Halberg. The orchestra gives concerts at the Funkhaus Halberg and the Congresshalle in Saarbrücken, and at the Fruchthalle in Kaiserslautern.

German Radio Philharmonic Orchestra Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern
Radio orchestra
Native name	Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern
Founded	1937; 87 years ago (1937)
Location	Saarbrücken
Concert hall	Funkhaus Halberg
Principal conductor	Pietari Inkinen

History

The precursor ensemble of the orchestra date back to 1937. In 1951, Emmerich Smola established the Rundfunkorchester Kaiserslautern for the Südwestfunk (Southwest Radio). Separately, by 1952, funding shortages at RIAS led to the downsizing of a full symphony orchestra in the Saarland region to a chamber orchestra. This was the Kammerorchester des Saarländischen Rundfunks, established in 1957. This chamber orchestra gave concerts until 1972. In 1973, this orchestra merged with the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Saarbrücken. With the consolidation of two German broadcasting networks, the Südwestfunk and SDR into the newly formed SWR, two separate orchestras from the former parent networks, the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Saarbrücken of the Saarländischer Rundfunk (SR) and the Rundfunkorchester Kaiserslautern of the Südwestrundfunk were consolidated into a single ensemble, and given the new name of Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern (DRP) (2007). Christoph Poppen was the first chief conductor of the combined ensemble, serving through 2011.

Beginning in 2011, Karel Mark Chichon served as chief conductor. He was scheduled to step down from the post after the 2016–2017 season.^[1] In September 2016, the orchestra announced the appointment of Pietari Inkinen as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2017–2018 season, with an initial contract of 4 years.^[2] In January 2024, the orchestra announced simultaneously the scheduled departure of Inkinen as its chief conductor at the close of the 2024-2025 season,^[3] and the appointment of Josep Pons as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2025-2026 season.^[4]

Chief conductors

• Rudolf Michl (1946–1971; SR)
• Hans Zender (1972–1984; SR)
• Myung-Whun Chung (1984–1990; SR)
• Marcello Viotti (1991–1995; SR)
• Michael Stern (1996–2000; SR)
• Günther Herbig (2001–2006; SR)
• Christoph Poppen (2006–2011; DRP)
• Karel Mark Chichon (2011–2017; DRP)
• Pietari Inkinen (2017–present; DRP)

References

1. "Karel Mark Chichon gibt bekannt, seinen Vertrag nach sechs Jahren als Chefdirigent der Deutschen Radio Philharmonie nicht zu verlängern" (Press release). SWR. 14 April 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
2. "Der Finne Pietari Inkinen wird neuer Chefdirigent der Deutschen Radio Philharmonie ab der Saison 2017/18" (Press release). SWR. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
3. "Pietari Inkinen verlässt die Deutsche Radio Philharmonie nach der Spielzeit 2024/25" (Press release). Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
4. "Josep Pons wird neuer Chefdirigent der Deutschen Radio Philharmonie ab der Spielzeit 2025/26" (Press release). Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.

External links

• Official website, accessed 19 March 2013